Theft Description

This was an opportunist theft from the gravelled driveway right in front of our house by someone who must have seen me arrive on the bike.  The address is 18a Charlbury Road, Oxford OX2 6UU.  I had ridden it up  our drive (distance about 20m from the pavement) to the side entrance  which we keep locked (Googlemap-timestamped arrival at 15:50 on 23 July 2022).  I dismounted, taking the front bag with me to the front door.  Regrettably, I left the bike unlocked.  I thought it was safe  because it was hidden from casual passers-by by the parked car on the driveway and I was going to bring it to its indoor securepoint immediately.   I entered the house to obtain the key to unlock the side entrance from inside.  Straightaway I noticed it had been taken.  I went outside to search the roadway (doorbell timestamp: 15:57) but there was no sign of the bike or thief. I noticed another bike unsecured on the pavement outside number 18, our immediate neighbour, which had not been there on my first arrival.  This was a dark blue Raleigh Pioneer 1 men's hybrid bike.  I strongly suspect the thief had been using this bike just before taking our Brompton. I called 101 to report the theft to Thames Valley Police, who have noted the details and sent confirmation of the incident.  I am circulating immediate neighbours and our neighbourhood association about the loss.